The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-07-16

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| which would fit nothing but.par-
allelograms eighteen inches long
and ten inches broad. .......... SOC
| IotaI ................ SloZ.ll
In the next copy of ''Our Church
Organ" it was announced that DR.. But.
ties had received donation of over 1882
with other marks of his peoples regard
to which the editor added, feelingly:
"The Griggsville church is star in our
denomination"
had to have the sofa repaired and
newly covered, the old hair-cloth cover.
ing being torn to shrede, and Dobbs & Co.,
charged me $21 for the job, and 81 for
putting new glass in the mirror. The
carpets and curtains were carefully darn
ed, and, after much scrubbing and hard
work, the parsonage settled down into
its usual neat poverty; but could not
afford to buy hall carpet, nor could I
replace my curiosities or my wife's pet
chair and old china, and it was months
before my thoughts flowed with their &C
customed calm vigor when seated my
self before my disfgured desk.
1t was not long after the donation when
my wife and began hearing the most as
tonishing rumors. When it was told me.
conidentially, that folks were saying
about town that at one time my wife had
serious thoughts of leaving me, laugh
ed; but when, soon afterward, another
person asked me if Mrs. B. had ever left
me, and, if SO, for how long, and why, 1
was startled. 1t was not many days be-
fore Mrs. Rogers cleared up the mystery
for me.
II was bound to git to the bottom Of
the whole story afore / said word to
you," she chuckled. "You don't remem-
Der, now, do you, what letters you keep
in the top bureau drawer up in the front
chamber?"
"LettersP' gasped Mrs. Buttles.
Mrs. Rogers nodded. "Yes, letters.
Now, it you won't lisp world wouldn't
have it come from me for no money, for
Inever backbite; but this is just too mean
to keep. Sally Pepper-now this is be-
tween us-Sally Pepper, she read some
of them ERE letters the night of the do
nation"
"Read themp
"Read emf echoed Mrs. Rogers. "I
should say she did; an as nothing but
grim death d keep her tongue still, she
told what she read, an guess some more.
There be folks as curious as she is livin',
an SO she was asked how she knew SO
much; an then, there being no way to
crawl out OF it, she said she read letter
she found up stairs in your house on the
floor. That's how she found out that you
came nigh leaving DR.. Buttles, an lots
more forgit, but she tells more'n vas
ever put into one letter."
Mrs. Buttles and myself went over
those letters, which were some that she
wrote me after we had left Betsey's Cor
ners, while she was at her fathers house,
much to that old gentleman's disgust,
and l, anxiously in search of parish,
was preaching at Three River Point for
my board. We found one in which Mary
Jane, who is always full of hope, wrote
me in this wise "Don't you remember
that once you thought 1 was going to
leave you for always? but that came out
all right, and this will" The once she
referred to was an illness, when even the
doctor shook his head, and no one but
Mary Jane herself thought she would
recover.
"This is one of the letters" said Mrs.
Buttles. "I'm sure L never put it up
folded such a way. I'm going to burn
every letter there is in the house,"
I suggested that box with a paddock
would be secure, and that 1 disliked to
destroy all these souvenirs of our youth.
There's nothing safe from the all-see-
ing eyes of this parish" she cried in tear
fui anger, and piling the letters up in the
stove. "As long as we live, and you
preach, Uriab, we're liable to have o'ca-
sions, and just such works."
| Not long ago at one of the deacon's
meetings which are held monthly at my
house, Deacon Screwys began talking
about the financial affairs of the church,
and concluded his remarks by saying:
"Therell be sight of back salary ag' in
this year, DIR. Buttles, an in my opinion,
we can't do better'n to have jest sech n
OCCASIONS we had last year. Ye know
what refer tew-yer last donation.
Deacon Bulge is the quiet one in our
quartet of deacons; silent and timid
man, he is singularly resolute and obsti-
nate when reused, and he Immediately
began pulling at his whiskers, which is
his way of commencing a speech. "My
breetherin'," he said mildly, T've stood a
heap of things hadn't ort O., sence I've
been deacon. 'Mong m is fish pon's,
an grab-bags, an ring cakes, an poppy
shows in the meet'in house, an donations.
Now, eff anybody wants ter give DIR. But
ties somethin' cause they love him, I'm
agreeable; but when the members air
slack in payin' his pizen little salary, and